As Caroline says, the ending of Viper’s Daughter is ‘very satisfying’. The story is complete for those who prefer a standalone tale yet leaves plenty of room for continuation in the next book. So before you hear what I thought of the book, here is Caroline’s review, penned within hours of receiving Viper’s Daughter by post (and submitted to school via Google classroom, during the time of Coronavirus Covid-19!)

The book can be read as a standalone story though I think it’s better to read the entire series! It’s actually quite hard to give the storyline of the book without giving any spoiler of the previous books. Let’s give it a go though: All the characters immediately feel real, so does their world. The stories are always twisty and exciting – you think the end is coming but no, more twists, more adventure! Viper’s Daughter, by acclaimed author and Guardian Children’s Fiction prizewinner, Michelle Paver, is a children’s historical adventure fiction– is that a genre?! – of epic proportions, set in the snow-bound, far north clan-lands of Scandinavia 6,000 years ago. Written between 2004 and 2009, we only discovered them last year and Caroline tore through all six in a matter of weeks (as did I!), loving every immersive minute. Caroline even named her new kitten Torak after the main character! Caroline and our Torak reading Viper’s Daughter Caroline’s excitement at the prospect of the ongoing story has been palpable ever since; Michelle Paver’s writing really does have this effect. Viper’s Daughter by Michelle Paver

Multibuys

Michelle’s detailed investigation brings to life everything about the ancient culture of the story; the foods they eat, how they cook, their clothes, hunting techniques, the shelters they build. Viper’s Daughter is the long-awaited sequel to the Wolf Brother series and to the delight of ardent fans it turns out to be the first in a trilogy! Why not pin me to read later? Here’s my photo of Torak (on the right) with a wolf called Mai, who we think inspired the wolf character Darkfur in the books! Are we right Michelle??

Viper’s Daughter transports us along with Torak & Co on a journey farther north than they have ever been before, to where the cold white sun never sets and the last mammoths are struggling for survival. Outdoor Mum, lover of nature& the wild, and parent of a childhood cancer survivor. I LOVE being outdoors & have experienced the benefits of nature & the wild during serious illness.Michelle’s clean, simple descriptions of nature and the natural environment bring a gentle, comforting richness to the reading experience.

But the reigning Viper stands in her way. Corrupt and merciless, he prowls the seas in his warship, killing with impunity, leaving only pain and suffering in his wake. One of the things I love about Viper’s Daughter is that Michelle continues the brilliant educational value within the storylines. Torak and his companions are fictitious but the pre-historic world they inhabit is painstakingly researched by the author’s first-hand exploration into similar landscapes in our own times. I’m not in any way in the slightest little bit at all jealous honestly… The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is no longer open to the public but at the time of writing Torak is alive and well and living a very contented life. If only he knew how inspirational that life has been! Join me at Kids of the Wild to discover how to get your kids outside more, spark a lifelong love of nature together & enjoy everything the great outdoors has to offer.

Our copy arrived on the doorstep last week. Witness below 👇 the joy of a 10-year old on opening it, newly published and desperately awaited. Do I need to add much more to our book review than this?!

I love the series so much, it’s all about adventure, friendships, clans, demons and Soul Eaters! I love it because I see myself a bit in all of the main characters – loyal, fun, adventurous, wild and slightly stubborn! In COAD we watched Torak grow from a Stone-Age boy of 12 summers to the teen that he is when Viper’s Daughter is set, two years after the the end of the last book, Ghost Hunter.Here are some stone age survival techniques your children can try at home, from a workshop we attended a few years ago, and you can read about the time I went snow hole digging in Scotland– the nearest I’ve come to one of Michelle’s own investigative expeditions. Mammuts, Ice Caves & Magic After finishing Viper’s Daughter she’ll undoubtedly read it a couple more times in the coming months and she is now gutted to have to wait a year for the next book. First Edition Hardcover